Powder woodpecker
| Powder woodpecker | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Powder Woodpecker ( Mulleripicus pulverulentus ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Mulleripicus pulverulentus | ||||||||||||
| ( Temminck , 1826) |
The powder woodpecker ( Mulleripicus pulverulentus ) is probably the largest known species of woodpecker still in existence. It belongs to the genus Mulleripicus, which is native to Southeast Asia and comprises only three species, within the subfamily of the real woodpeckers (Picinae). The powder woodpecker gets its name from a fine, powder-like coating of the plumage, which arises from decaying half-down, and which possibly prevents the plumage from sticking together by tree sap or honey. Overall, this species is still very poorly researched. Due to the continuing destruction of the tropical forests in the greater part of its range, the population is likely to have decreased by 90 to 95%. The IUCN therefore classifies the powder woodpecker as endangered (“vulnerable”).
Appearance
With a total length of just over 50 centimeters and a weight of up to 500 grams, the powder woodpecker is slightly larger than the native black woodpecker and considerably larger in size, but is significantly smaller than the North American emperor woodpecker with a total length of up to 60 cm, which may have been extinct since 1993. It is noticeably long-necked and long-tailed. It is unmistakable in its area of distribution, only in flight could it be mistaken for a hornbill in poor observation conditions.
In their overall appearance, powder woodpeckers are almost uniformly slate gray, with the ventral side and the flanks being lighter, the control and wing feathers, however, darker. The lower abdomen and the flanks can be indistinctly striped pale gray. Feet and claws are slate gray, the long, powerful, slightly downwardly curved bill is yellowish, more light gray towards the tip. At the back of the head the feathers are somewhat elongated, but there is no clear crest. The sexes do not seem to differ in height and weight; There is a clear sexual dimorphism in the color of the cheek and throat area: In male powder woodpeckers, the throat and neck are colored a rich leather yellow, towards the chest this color shows some reddish inclusions, which are individually differently pronounced. Males have an inverted crescent-shaped, brick-red stripe under their eyes . The throat of the females is pale yellow, all red markings are missing.
The juvenile plumage is noticeably paler and has a distinct brown tone, especially on the upper side. The belly side and the flanks are a bit flocked, the neck and throat side is more whitish. The red facial markings are more pronounced in juvenile males than in adults, and occasionally they also have red crown markings.
voice
For a woodpecker of this size, the powder woodpecker is acoustically quite inconspicuous, the most common call is a polysyllabic, neighing woik , in which the first syllable is a little separated and sounds higher than the following. This call is mostly uttered in flight. Family members communicate with soft, gentle, meowing tones. There is drumming, but it doesn't seem to be very common.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of this species of woodpecker stretches from the southern foothills of the Himalayas in northern India , eastward over southern Nepal , southern Bhutan , Sikkim and southwestern Yunnan , southward over parts of Bangladesh and Assam , and south-eastward over large areas of mainland Southeast Asia to the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula . Powder woodpeckers are also found on Borneo , to the east the distribution extends to the east of Java , to the northeast the Palawan , which belongs to the Philippines, is inhabited by M. pulverulentus . Breeding occurrences were also found on the Andaman Islands and some smaller islands off Sumatra and Borneo. The inter alia by Winkler et al. The distribution shown in Sumatra could be from Lammertink et al. neither for the past nor for the present can be confirmed, the reasons for the lack of the species there are unclear.
The powder woodpecker is nowhere common in its distribution area, especially at the northern limit of distribution it is a very rare species. The densest occurrences are likely to be in southern Vietnam and the Sunda Islands. In general it is more of a breeding bird of the lowlands, in the Himalayan foothills it appears up to about 1100 meters, only on Borneo it also breeds in higher areas.
Powder woodpeckers inhabit evergreen tropical rainforests, preferring those with some clearings filled with mighty trees. In some cases it penetrates into secondary forests and into very large park landscapes. In coastal areas it also breeds in old mangrove forests and in tree-covered alluvial areas.
Food and subsistence
Powder woodpeckers live mainly on ants, but also eat all other available insects and their stages of development. Different types of stingless bees are also among the prey animals and can become the main prey at least seasonally. Fruits, tree sap and honey are also likely to be found in this type of diet.
When foraging for food, these woodpeckers roam their vast foraging territory in pairs or in groups of four to six, sometimes up to twelve individuals. They are often associated with other woodpeckers, such as the white-bellied woodpecker ( Dryocopus javensis ) or the sultan woodpecker ( Chrysocolaptes lucidus ). Most of these groups stay in the upper trunk and crown area of high trees, in the west of Borneo trees over 31 cm chest height diameter were clearly preferred. The trees are systematically searched for food; simple collection from the trunk or branch surface, poking and drilling outweigh by far more profound chopping work. The movements on the trunk and in the branches are noticeably slow and deliberate. Changes in location are made in a rapid, fairly straightforward flight high above the treetops; A considerable flight noise can be heard at a short distance, especially when changing direction.
Breeding biology
Powder woodpeckers probably live in a partnership of several years, in any case they are usually found in pairs or groups outside of the breeding season. The breeding season varies greatly depending on the geographical distribution, in Malaysia it is between March and August. The nest cavity is created very high in strong trunks or branches of previously damaged or already dead trees. Old caves are probably only reused in exceptional cases, so that powder woodpeckers are very important cave suppliers for a number of cave-breeding mammals, but especially for hornbills . The cave entrance measures up to 10 centimeters in diameter. The clutch consists of 2–4 eggs. No data are known about the incubation period and nestling time. It is possible that the young birds stay with the parents until the next breeding season, or they also help with the rearing of the next year's brood;
Systematics
Due to morphological similarities, the small genus Mulleripicus comprises three species of medium-sized to very large woodpeckers, whose distribution is limited to Sulawesi ( Celebes woodpecker , M. fulvus ), some islands in the Philippines ( Philippine woodpecker , M. funebris ) and Southeast Asia. Genetic studies that would confirm the closer relationship between these species are not yet available. The family relationships of the genus within the Picinae are also not known.
M. pulverulentus is differentiated into two subspecies. The subspecies described above, M. p. harterti is widespread on the mainland south-east to northern Malaysia. The nominate form populates the southeastern mainland area and some of the Great Sunda Islands. It is clearly darker, almost gray-black. Other subspecies are named, depending on the author.
In a paper published in 2014, Winkler et al. proposed the union of Mulleripicus and Dryocopus .
Persistence and Threat
In 2009, an initial assessment of the development of the population and the current population was published for most of the distribution area based on the originally existing forest area, the forest cover still existing in 1990 and 2005 and the known development of the population in forests influenced by wood use. Before the start of clearing by humans, the forest area in 15 countries with occurrences of the species was around 1.87 million km², of which 0.88 million km² in 1990 and 0.74 million km² in 2005. In 1990 64,000 km² were classified as primeval forest , in 2005 it was still 44,000 km². The authors therefore assume an original population of around 5.6 million individuals, for 1990 they estimate the population at 0.92–1.03 million individuals, and for 2005 at 257,000-550,000. Between 1990 and 2005, the population would have decreased by 40–75%, a total of 90–95%. Since the lowest population estimate, at least for some countries, is still considerably higher than the population documented there by observers, the authors also consider a total population of only 26,000 individuals to be possible. The IUCN classifies the powder woodpecker as endangered (“vulnerable”).
Despite the strong decline in the population, Lammertink et al. points out that there are still vital populations in many countries and that well-known animal species such as orangutans and tigers are also found in regions and protected areas that are particularly important for species conservation ; The powder woodpecker therefore also benefits from the protection of the habitats of these species. Due to its close ties to old tree populations and its good traceability, the species itself can most likely serve as an indicator species for numerous invertebrates and tree-dwelling mammals bound to this habitat .
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ Lammertink (2004) p. 317
- ↑ Hans Winkler, David. A. Christie and David Nurney: Woodpeckers. A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets, and Wrynecks of the World. Pica Press, Sussex 1995: pp. 392-393
- ↑ Martjan Lammertink, Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Utami Setiorini, Thet Zaw Naing, JW Duckworth and Steph BJ Menken: Global population decline of the Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus). Biological Conservation 142, Issue 1, 2009: p. 173
- ↑ Lammertink (2004) p. 314
- ↑ a b Martjan Lammertink, Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Utami Setiorini, Thet Zaw Naing, JW Duckworth and Steph Menken BJ: Global population decline of the Great Slaty Woodpecker (mulleripicus pulverulentus). Biological Conservation 142, Issue 1, 2009: pp. 166-179
- ↑ Lammertink (2004) p. 316
- ↑ Hans Winkler, Anita Gamauf, Franziska Nittinger and Elisabeth Haring: Relationships of Old World woodpeckers (Aves: Picidae) - new insights and taxonomic implications In: Annalen des Naturhist. Mus. Vienna, B Series 01/2014; 116: 69-86
- ↑ Martjan Lammertink, Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Utami Setiorini, Thet Zaw Naing, JW Duckworth and Steph BJ Menken: Global population decline of the Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus). Biological Conservation 142, Issue 1, 2009: pp. 176–177
literature
- Martjan Lammertink : Grouping and cooperative breeding in the Great Slaty Woodpecker. In: The Condor 106, 2004: pp. 309-319.
- Martjan Lammertink, Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Utami Setiorini, Thet Zaw Naing, JW Duckworth and Steph BJ Menken: Global population decline of the Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus). Biological Conservation 142, Issue 1, 2009: pp. 166-179
- Hans Winkler , David A. Christie and David Nurney : Woodpeckers. A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets, and Wrynecks of the World. Pica Press, Sussex 1995, ISBN 1-873403-25-9 : pp. 164 and 392-393
Web links
- Mulleripicus pulverulentus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2010. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2010. Retrieved on 16 September, 2010.
Other web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings on Mulleripicus pulverulentus in the Internet Bird Collection
